The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-08-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
There exists a peculiar abstract non
entity called public sentiment. We hard
ly know how to defineit. 1t seems to be the
general running of minds in one direc-
ton. Usually there are one or two per-
sons in every community, neighbor-
hood or society who are local magnets,
and draw about them a class of inferior
persons who follow their thoughts, and
are said to be molders of public senti-
ment. If they are right, public senti-
ment is right, if wrong, public senti-
ment is wrong. The great molder of
public sentiment in the Sandy Fork
neighborhood was Judge Arnold. He
was authority on all questions, either
social or political, and when he took a
stand the other people, or n majority
at least, were sure to be with him. The
very fact that the Judge had filed COM
plant against Helen Lakeman, charg-
ing her with grand larceny, was
enough to convince nearly every per-
son in the Sandy Fork neighborhood
that she was guilty.
"She's poor girl" said Mr.. Taylor,
when discussing the matter with his
family, "but then she has fallen. 1t is
not the first girl who has fallen. The
temptation was great and she was weak.
The Judge was, perhaps, little too
severe on her."
81 don't pity her much" said Mrs.
Taylor; "shc was always Il little stuck
up L thought, and it may be this will
lower her a notch or two"
Helen's pretty face had caused many
to envy her. The prevailing opinion
was that she was guilty. Not a voice,
save Clarence Stuart's and her attor-
ney's, was raised in her defense. Clar-
ence was loud in his protestatiOns of
her innocence. He tried i'm every way
he could to get his brothers address, so
that he might write to him, but his
father was careful that he should not
have it.
Clarence was blowing in the field one
day when viii Taylor, son of Mr.. John
Taylor, the farmer whose farm joined
Mr.. Arnold's, passed down the lane.
VIII was one of those INDECENT fellows,
who enjoyed sitting on the fence and
talking on any subject better than
work.
"Well, Clarry. they've got that gal in
Jail yet, said VIII, when he had made
Clarence pull up in the fence corner,
and stop his team. 1t was only a day
or two after the visit of the young
farmer and his sister to Helen, and the
youth was in no amiable mood.
.'It's all blamed lie," said Clar-
ence.
Will Taylor grinned. win was
freckle-faced youth, of
about Clarence's own age, and Clar-
encc was ready to "whip him for two
cents" When Will grinned he was a
most hideOus person to behold. His |
teeth were large, and face sharp.
"Ye cant buck agin' public senti-
ment, Clarry," said Will. Public
sentiment is agin' her. and she's sure
to be convicted.
81 don't care a cent for public senti-
ment. viii; she's innocent.
Again Will glinned tliumphantly.
people are jist like sheep" said
Clarence. There's always bell
gether that all the rest follcr. II you
want them 10 90 through gateway,
md the boll-wether starts another di-
'ection, then every doggon sheep goes
after him. It's jist so with people. Old
Jim Arnold Is the bell-wether, and, al
hough reason and humanity says he's
gone wrong, every fool will follow him.
Now, sometimes you sec q sheep that's
got more sense than the bcll.weiher,
H. Sees green grass Ia the right aud
goes there, II makes no difference how
much the aid bell.wether may ring his
lell aud bleai, You call that sheep
Stubborn aud contrary. but hs's right.